The municipal and campus police agencies already work together on some operations.
GLASSBORO -- Rowan University and the borough maintain their own police departments and responsibilities often overlap between the two in this growing college town, where population swells from 19,000 to 35,000 when fall and spring classes are in session.
Given the close relationship between police agencies, borough and university officials want to find out if there are ways the two agencies can collaborate and function more efficiently. They are seeking a consultant to study the matter and return recommendations.
A consultant could suggest anything from new ways the agencies can work together to a full merger of the two departments, though a merger is not the intention of this exercise, officials stressed.
The police departments already work closely, said Bob Zazzali, Rowan's senior vice president for community and economic development. If Rowan officers spot someone speeding through the borough, "they are actually able to engage that individual," he said. If Glassboro officers spot trouble on campus, they will get involved, too.
Rowan and Glassboro police collaborate in some operations, too, including weekend party patrols in neighborhoods on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
In regular meetings between the borough and Rowan representatives, the idea of looking for new ways to collaborate developed, explained borough administrator Joe Brigandi.
"It makes sense to take a look," Brigandi said, noting that the departments have a good working relationship. "It's good but it could always be improved," he added.
One area Brigandi suggested was looking at how Rowan police could assist Glassboro during the summer months, when campus police traditionally have less activity, since the bulk of students have gone home.
Zazzali offered a few suggestions, too. "Why do we need two communication systems?" he asked. Both departments also maintain their own vehicle fleets. "Is there a way to share that aspect?" he wondered.
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Glassboro employs 43 full-time officers, six part-time SLEO II officers and seven civilian employees. Rowan employs 24 police officers and 15 public safety officers at its Glassboro campus. The study would not involve Rowan police at its Camden or Stratford campuses.
Rowan police are fully trained officers who carry firearms and have all of the powers of municipal officers. Rowan's police force has grown along with the Glassboro campus itself.
"Our department has changed drastically over the years," Zazzali explained. "Also, our footprint has expanded greatly."
Zazzali stressed that there is no desired outcome of this review.
"There's no hidden agenda," he said. "We want to have an independent, open, honest study."
While not ruling out the idea that a consultant could recommend a merger, Zazzali and Brigandi said that's not a goal in this process.
"I'm not going to say it's not a possibility," Zazzali said. "Could there be a merger? I don't want to prejudge, but that's not the agenda."
Brigandi expects the study will produce smaller, short-term recommendations rather than something drastic.
He said that this study isn't an effort to cut employees in either department, noting that there is plenty of work to go around.
"People don't have to be concerned or worried about their jobs," he said. "We're a very busy town."
The borough and university will share the cost of the study.
Once qualified applicants for the study submit their bids, a committee made up of borough and university representatives will review the contenders.
Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.